Combined compression spring and spring-bar bumper



' J. K. OLSEN COMBINED COMPRESSION SPRING AND SPRING BAR BUMPER Filed Apr v. i922 Fatented Oct. 23, 1923.

UNITED STAIPESA PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN K. OLSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO STEWART-WARNER SIEEDOM- ETER CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

COMBINED COMPRESSION SPRING AND SPRINGQBAR BUMPER.

Application mea April 7, 1922. ser'iaim. 550,303.

To all whom #may concern.:

Be it knownthat I, JOHN K. OLsEN, a citizen of the United States, having residence in the city of Chicago, in the county of C'ook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Compression Springs and Spring- Bar Bumpers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved construction in a bumper for automobiles for the purpose of combining the merits and advantages of different types of bumpers heretofore employed, and .facilitating assembling and adaptation to the dimensions and conditions of differentl vehicles.

It consists in the elements rand features of construction shown and described as indicated in the claims.

In the drawings p Figure 1 is a plan view on a small scale of a bu per embodying this invention, the same being shown mounted on the forward ends of the side bars of the vehicle.

Figure 2 is a detail front elevation of a portion indicated between the arrows, 2,2, on Figure 1. j

Figure 3 is a section at the line, 3 3, on Figure 2.

'Figure 4 is a frontelevation of a portion corrcsponding'to that shown in Figure 2, showing a modification consisting in the employment of a single impact bar.

Figure 5 is a section at the line, 5+-5, on Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a section at the line, 6 6, on Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the clamping clips for securing the impact member to the supporting arm.

The construction shown in the drawings at Figures 1, 2 and 3, comprises a pluralit and as shown, two flat spring bars, A, constituting the impact member lof the bumper, said bars being connected together and spaced apart by clips, C` C,` ashcreinafter more particularly explained, the total impact member being supported byI arms extending to the vehicle side bars res ectively, and each consisting of a coiled spring,

3. and a compression bolt, 2, extending axi-v ally through the spring. rIfhe bolt, 2, is provided with a head, 4, which in the farmv shown in these principal figures is extended vertically' and screwed onto the bolt so as to render the latter T-form, providing seating or bearing for the two spring bars, A, A against the upper and lower ends of said extended cross of the T. The bars, A, A, are clamped onto this bolt head by means of clips, C, C, which have at their ends rearwardly-turned fianges, C1', C2, engagin respectively above and below the spring A ars, A, and intermediate their ends lateral flanges, C'1, C1, which protrude between the upper and lower sprin bars and space them apart; or, as they mig t be described other- Wise, these clips are metal stampings flanged all around and having the flanges notched, as seen at C, for engagement of the two impact bars, A, A. Cooperating with these clips for securing the spring bars together and clamping them to the head, 4, of the bolt, 2, there is provided a clamp, B, having lateral lugs, B1, B1, flexed between the lugs into the form which is most clearlyr seen in section in Figure 3, for accommodating in the flexure the cross head, 4, of the bolt, bolts, D, D, taking through the mididle oints of the clips, C, and through the lugs,

1, of the clamp, and extendin between the two bars, A, A, serving to c amp the cooperating parts, B and C, onto the flat impact bars. The cross head 4 of thebolt, 2, is convex forwardly in a horizontal plane for seating the flat spring bars, A, A, upon it, `and this head, as to its thickness, is dimensioned `relatively to the depression or flexure in the clamp member, B, so that in clamping to the bars, A, the latter are slightly flexed over the convex surface of the bolt head, but well within the limits of the elastic rear-tion of the said bars, so that upon further flexure which may occur upon 1mpact with an obstacle in the travel of the vehicle, the spring bars will react so that the bolt head is still firmly gripped between the said spring bars and the clamps, B.

In the form shown in Figures 4 and 5, having only a single impact bar, A, the bolt head, 4", is square, but is to be understood as curved convexly forward horizontally, precisely as shown with respect to the head, 4, in Figure 3. In the form shown in Figures v4 and 5. the clips there designated C", differ from the clips in the other form, in that there is no requirement for spacing the bars apart, and therefore nothing corresponding to the projection, C, of the other form.

The spring, 3, is tensioned by compression below the head, 4, and the nut, 5, which is screwed onto the rear end of the bolt, Z, and affords means of securement to the arm, l, of the bracket, 1, attached to the vehicle side bar,-such securement being effected by means of a flange, 6, on the nut, 5, and clamping nut, 7 and jam nut, 8, screwed onto the exterior thread of the nut. The head, 4, and nut, 5, are axially`counterbored at 4 and 5, for seating the ends of the s ring.

Thev provision of the coile spring supports for the spring impact bumper bar with means for tensioning the coil springs at will, it will be understood has the purpose of enabling the user to adjust the tension of the coil spring supports so that upon a collision of the impact bar with an obstacle, the coil spring supports will yield before the impact bar is bent beyond its limit of elasticity and thereby acquires a permanent set in distorted form.

I claim 1. An automobile bumper, in combination with a flat bar spring impact member, a supporting member comprising a coiled spring and an axial compression bolt extending therethrough, the impact bar bearing against the head of said compression bolt, and said head being horizontally curved convexly forward at the bearing of the bar thereon.

2. In the construction defined in claim 1 foregoing, the bolt head being clamped against the impact bar, theiclamplng means being adapted to flex the bar toward the curved headofthe bolt, clamping it thereto.

3. In the construction defined in claim 1, foregoing, the impact member comprising a 'plurality of flat Spring bars vertically spaced apart and the bolt head being vertically elongated making the bolt of T-form, the impact bars being lodged and clamped against the end portions of the cross bar of the T bolt.

4. In the construction defined in claim 1, foregoing, the impact member comprising a plurality of fiat spring bars vertically spaced apart and the bolt head being vertically elongated making the bolt of T-form, clips applied in front of, across and connecting the impact bars at opposite sides of the cross head of the bolt, a clamp applied at the back side, engaging with the compression bolt head, and bolts engaging the said clamp with the clip, extending for such engagement between the impact bar.

5. In the construction defined in claim 1, foregoing, clips applied in front of, across and connecting the impact bars at opposite sides of the cross-head of the bolt, and having rearwardly extending projections between the impact bars for spacing the latter apart vertically, a clamp applied at the back side, 'engaging with the compression bolt heads, and bolts engaging said clamp with the clips extending for such engagement between the impact bar.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Chicago, Illinois, this 3 day of April, 1922.

JOHN K. oLsEN. 

